2022 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and national rally)
Discussion
I don't think you really get to this level in this sort of sport just by being a name, you have to be very good at lots of things, Kalle is that and was from early stages, not sure on Oliver, he still has a little to prove but has undoubted speed. The same could be said of Elfyn of course.
He did yes, but so did Llewellins kid and he got nowhere, I dont think money and help buys you too much in rallying, you have to be quick enough, there is no real hiding place, unless you are guys like Greensmith that are decent, fast enough but not winners and bring big backing, classic example was Matt Wilson, never WRC level but god enough in Britain, the step is huge.
LukeBrown66 said:
He did yes, but so did Llewellins kid and he got nowhere, I dont think money and help buys you too much in rallying, you have to be quick enough, there is no real hiding place, unless you are guys like Greensmith that are decent, fast enough but not winners and bring big backing, classic example was Matt Wilson, never WRC level but god enough in Britain, the step is huge.
I guess you are talking about Ben Llewellin, whose first sport is clay pigeon shooting and got silver in the commonwealth games. Rallying was a bit of fun, However Tom Llewellin appears to be a chip off the old block and going great guns in the championships he is competing in. David Llewellin thinks that Tom has what it takes. I hope so, after Tony Pond retired, I was always a Llewellin fan in the 80's and 90's.rastapasta said:
even with his old mans backing.
Yeah, it took a long time for him to get anywhere near a decent/ competitive car. UK/ Irish drivers are up against it, unless they have money, and even then it's no guarantee. I remember Elfyn rolling a Fiesta ST on the Pirelli International in Kielder....as we were trying to get another ST back on the road. Kalle has been in cars since he was a kid (there's that famous video of him); and obviously his dad's connections helped, and was put in quick cars very early; and so did the Red Bull athlete deal.....just like both Marquez & Verstappen.
They will also have money, everyone thinks it was ONLY talent that got Verstappen and many others into Red Bull and F1 deals, it was money too, don't think it wasn't. Oliver, Kalle all came with a fair bit of dough behind them too.
And regardless, I doubt Elfyn would have got as far as he did without being that drivers son, but fair play to him he has made iot work, a lot were shocked when Toyota picked him, but he has proven them wrong.
And regardless, I doubt Elfyn would have got as far as he did without being that drivers son, but fair play to him he has made iot work, a lot were shocked when Toyota picked him, but he has proven them wrong.
ArnageWRC said:
rastapasta said:
even with his old mans backing.
Yeah, it took a long time for him to get anywhere near a decent/ competitive car. UK/ Irish drivers are up against it, unless they have money, and even then it's no guarantee. I remember Elfyn rolling a Fiesta ST on the Pirelli International in Kielder....as we were trying to get another ST back on the road. Kalle has been in cars since he was a kid (there's that famous video of him); and obviously his dad's connections helped, and was put in quick cars very early; and so did the Red Bull athlete deal.....just like both Marquez & Verstappen.
You need the talent, money & connections to get anywhere - especially as there are so few seats in top level rallying. Even then that's no guarantee. And some countries have a governing body that backs its young talent, which enables them to get chances. MSUK have never done this; fitness, PR/media training is not really the same.
I'd advise any youngster to go circuit racing; far more opportunities, and you're not stuck in one single category; you can move between single seaters, GTs, Prototypes, Touring cars, etc
I'd advise any youngster to go circuit racing; far more opportunities, and you're not stuck in one single category; you can move between single seaters, GTs, Prototypes, Touring cars, etc
It doesn’t help that there isn’t much tv or press coverage here, not sure about abroad. Lack of any competition/excitement and over a minute between 1st and 2nd says something about either the stages or the cars, not sure which. Interesting that F1 and WRC have gone hybrid and not for the better from my perspective.
Pleased to see Tanak getting back in the winner's enclosure... but I just can't get myself excited about this WRC season. I caught up on all 3 days on the highlights, but this must be the first event in ages where I didn't watch a single stage live.
As was mentioned above, there's a lot of competing motorsport around just now. I still haven't dipped into the Paul Ricard GTs from the weekend, and of course we have Le Mans this week...
As was mentioned above, there's a lot of competing motorsport around just now. I still haven't dipped into the Paul Ricard GTs from the weekend, and of course we have Le Mans this week...
There's a lot more accessible motorsport around up against the WRC, than there used to be. There will be a hard core of devoted fans, but not enough newer fans of the sport to think signing up to WRC+ All Live is worth it.
The 1000kms GT at Paul Ricard was free on Saturday evening/night on You Tube, the IMSA race from Detroit free on imsa.tv are just two examples. Those in charge of the WRC are still getting it wrong, but can't/ won't be told.
The 1000kms GT at Paul Ricard was free on Saturday evening/night on You Tube, the IMSA race from Detroit free on imsa.tv are just two examples. Those in charge of the WRC are still getting it wrong, but can't/ won't be told.
I would suggest that stuff like what used to be Blancpain and IMSA would not command an audience to warrant pay tv really, but it doesn't stop any series trying. BTCC would be the next and BSB were it not for terrestrial, no doubt linked to UK sponsors demanding this is the case.
WRC was on terrestrial for years but was probably being bought, that is not the way now, it was living off McRae/Burns viewing figures for a very long time I expect and eventually terrestrial ran out of patience for the lack of viewers and advertising I think it was on every channel at some point, was certainly on 1, 3 and 4, and I think 5, so their options were to make it free or try and hook people into paying, same as WEC did and that does not have an audience, but that is almost worth paying for Le Mans alone.
The TT is trying it these next few weeks, its not a bad deal 15 quid for the week, seemed a bit crap initially but OK now and people are happy with it, better than asking a tv company to pay for it, doing all the work etc. Why not when you can do it in house.
WRC was on terrestrial for years but was probably being bought, that is not the way now, it was living off McRae/Burns viewing figures for a very long time I expect and eventually terrestrial ran out of patience for the lack of viewers and advertising I think it was on every channel at some point, was certainly on 1, 3 and 4, and I think 5, so their options were to make it free or try and hook people into paying, same as WEC did and that does not have an audience, but that is almost worth paying for Le Mans alone.
The TT is trying it these next few weeks, its not a bad deal 15 quid for the week, seemed a bit crap initially but OK now and people are happy with it, better than asking a tv company to pay for it, doing all the work etc. Why not when you can do it in house.
LukeBrown66 said:
I would suggest that stuff like what used to be Blancpain and IMSA would not command an audience to warrant pay tv really, but it doesn't stop any series trying. BTCC would be the next and BSB were it not for terrestrial, no doubt linked to UK sponsors demanding this is the case.
WRC was on terrestrial for years but was probably being bought, that is not the way now, it was living off McRae/Burns viewing figures for a very long time I expect and eventually terrestrial ran out of patience for the lack of viewers and advertising I think it was on every channel at some point, was certainly on 1, 3 and 4, and I think 5, so their options were to make it free or try and hook people into paying, same as WEC did and that does not have an audience, but that is almost worth paying for Le Mans alone.
The TT is trying it these next few weeks, its not a bad deal 15 quid for the week, seemed a bit crap initially but OK now and people are happy with it, better than asking a tv company to pay for it, doing all the work etc. Why not when you can do it in house.
I am a dyed-in-the-wool rally fan, former competitor, organiser, marshal etc. I signed up to WRC+ All Live last year, but despite sitting at a desk all day / working from home, I barely watched it. For some reason, live rallying coverage seem to suck all the joy and drama out of it, and the more there is = the duller it seems. WRC was on terrestrial for years but was probably being bought, that is not the way now, it was living off McRae/Burns viewing figures for a very long time I expect and eventually terrestrial ran out of patience for the lack of viewers and advertising I think it was on every channel at some point, was certainly on 1, 3 and 4, and I think 5, so their options were to make it free or try and hook people into paying, same as WEC did and that does not have an audience, but that is almost worth paying for Le Mans alone.
The TT is trying it these next few weeks, its not a bad deal 15 quid for the week, seemed a bit crap initially but OK now and people are happy with it, better than asking a tv company to pay for it, doing all the work etc. Why not when you can do it in house.
Does anyone else feel like that? I could stand all day in a forest and watch people pootle by at the back of the field, but watching the best in the world in-car on live TV? Nope....I recall feeling the same back in the McRae / Burns heyday and live stages.
Now, I keep and eye on EWRC and Twitter during the event, and sit back to watch the ITV4 highlight during the week after.
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